Albert l



(No Model.)

A. L. PURDY.

BILL FILE.

No. 461,046. Patented Oct. 13,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. PURDY, OF \VELLSVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES THORNTON AND HORACE G.

DOBBINS, OF SAME PLACE.

BILL-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,046, dated October 13, 1891.

Application filed February 2, 1889. Serial No. 298,485. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it 'known that I, ALBERT L. PURDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at ellsville, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bill-Files, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of bill files or holders which consist of a back plate or board and a spring clasp or clasps attached to the board, whereby the bills or other papers are clamped against the board.

The object of my invention is to construct the clasps of the holder in sucha manner that they can be wholly swung out of the way, so as to leave the entire surface of the board or back plate clear and unobstructed, so that the bills can be conveniently placed in the tile, and so that the clasps may be manipulated independently of each other, in order to release the bills at one end and clasp them at the other end in looking over the same.

My invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafterfullydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bill-file, showing the clasps against the back board in the position in which they clamp the bills. Fig. 2 is a similar View, showing the clasps swung away from the board to clear the same. Fig. 3 isa similar View, showing one of the clasps closed against the board and the other thrown over the end of the board and resting against the back of the same.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents a narrow board or back plate forming the support against which the bills are placed, and which is preferably constructed of wood.

B B represent two spring-clasps arranged near opposite ends of the board A, and whereby the bills are held against the board A. These clasps each consist of a cross bar 1), adapted to rest upon the bills and provided with lateral arms 0 and two branches d (Z, arranged nearly parallel with the arms 0. The branches cl are connected at their outer ends to the arms 0 by spring-coils e and are pivoted at their inner ends to the lateral edges of the board A. The inner portions of the branches d are bent inwardly at right angles shown at d, and are journaled in openings formed in the lateral edges of the board A, near the ends thereof. At the inner ends of these pivot-openings are formed holes (1 extending through the entire thickness of the board and at right angles to said pivot-openings. The inner ends of the wire pivots d are clinched or bent over in the holes (I and are in this manner securely held inplace. If desired, the ends of the wire pivots may be flattened or enlarged in the openings (1 to prevent withdrawal thereof. The coils e tend to draw the arms 0 and branches d toward each other and the cross-bars 1) against the board A. The arms a and branches d preferably cross each other where the ends of the coils 6 connect with these parts, as by this construction the clasps retain their elasticity for a longer time. The clasps are attached to the board A solely by the pivots d and are capable of swinging upwardly and outwardly over the ends of the board, as shown by full lines in Fig. 3, so as to entirely clear the front side of the board A, the cross-bars b of the clasps resting against the under side or back of the board and thereby holding the clasps in an open position. if desired, the clasps may be held in thisposit-ion by engagingtheir cross-bars in transverse grooves or depressions f, formedin the ends of the board A, as shown in Fig. 2. Vhen the clasps are swung over the ends of the board and rest against the back thereof, the face of the board Ais free and unobstructed and the bills or other papers can be conveniently placed upon the board. After the clasps have been thrown over the ends of the boards the arms and branches 0 d may be swung at right angles to the board,,as shown by full lines in Fig. 2 and by dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which posihold the bills squarely and evenly upon the board. After the papers have been put in the file the cross-bars l) are swung forwardly over the ends of the board, when the coils e by their reaction will draw the cross-bars intion they serve as guards or guides, whichto the remaining portions of the branches, as

wardly against the package of bills and cause the cross-bars to clasp the bills and; assume the position shown in Fig. 1. This inward movement of the cross-bars when released also causes the arms a and branch es (1 to swing inwardly toward the board A and occupy a position adjacent to the lateral edges of the board, as shown in Fig. 1.

hen it is desired to refer to the indorsements on the bills without withdrawing them from the file, one of the clasps is swung over the end of the board to release the bills at one end, while the bills are held at theiropposite ends against the board by the other clasp, so as not to be withdrawn or displaced in the file.

While examining the bills the arinsc dare turned parallel with the edges of the board, so as to be out of the way.

By my improved construction the inner portions of the clasps formed by the arms 0, branches d, and coils e are rendered capable of swinging rearwardly beyond the board A, givingtheclasps considerable range of movement and enabling the same to receive and clasp a large number of bills, while at the same time possessing sufficient elasticity to firmly clasp a small number of bills. v

To enable the clasps to be conveniently manipulated the cross-bars?) are preferably formed with a projection, bend, or loop g, as shown in the right-hand clasps of the drawings, or, if preferred, the cross-bars may be provided with a plate or finger-piece h, as shown in the left-hand clasps in all the figures.

If desired, the cross-bars b may be inclosed in a thimble or sleeve to strengthen and stiffen the same, which permits the use of lighter or thinner wire in the construction of the clasps.

The clasps are each preferably constructed of a single piece or length of spring-wire bent to the form shown.

It is obvious that the bill-file may be provided with a single clasp, if desired, but two are preferably employed, as shown.

I claim as my invention 1. In a bill file, the combination, with a board or back plate, of a spring-clasp composed of a cross-bar bearing against the face of the board, and lateral arms extending from opposite ends of .said cross-bars lengthwise along the sides of the board and having return branches arranged below said arms and pivoted at their outer or upper ends to the sides of the board near said cross-bars, substantially asset forth.

2. In a bill-file, the combination, with a board or back plate, of a spring-clasp composed of a crossbar bearing against the face of the board, lateral arms extending from opposite ends of the cross-bar lengthwise along the sides of the board, branches pivoted at their outer or upper ends to opposite sides of the board, and coils connecting the lower inner ends of said branches with the lower or inner ends of the arms, substantially as set forth.

3. In a bill file or holder, the combination, with a board or back plate provided in its end with a groove or depression f, of a springclasp pivoted to the board and composed ot'a transverse bar Z), adapted to engage in said groove and having at each end a lateral arm 0, branches (Z, pivoted at their inner ends to the lateral edges of the board, and springcoils e, connecting the free outer ends of the lateral arms 0 and branches 51, substantially as set forth.

4. In a bill-file or holder, the combination, with the board 'or back plate A, of the clasp B, formed of a single length of wire and composed of a cross-bar I), having lateral armsc 0, branches (1 (1, attached to the board A and having their inner ends bent inwardly to form pivots (Z, and coils 6, connecting the outer ends ot'said arms and branches, substantially as set forth.

itness my hand this 21st day of December, 1888.

ALBERT L. P-URDY. Witnesses:

ALFRED S. BROWN, SAML. THORNTON. 

